I can’t believe it was back in 2019 when I first met Melanie Blake at the launch of her debut novel The Thunder Girls (reviewed here). I am delighted to have been invited to participate in the blog tour for her latest book Vengeful Women which is the latest part of Melanie’s Falcon Bay series. My enormous thanks to Divia at Tiger Team Creative for inviting me to take part. It’s my pleasure not only to share my review of Vengeful Women, but to share a special message for her readers from Melanie.

Published on 6th November 2025, Vengeful Women is available for purchase here. 

Vengeful Women

Power. Passion. Revenge. Nothing is off-limits in Falcon Bay.

From Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake comes a gripping new chapter in the Falcon Bay series – where showbiz glamour collides with dark secrets, and women who’ve lost everything are ready to fight back.

On a private island off the coast of England, five powerful women sit in jail, awaiting trial for manslaughter: a world-famous soap star, an ambitious talent agent, a ruthless producer, a brilliant screenwriter and a cougar casting director.

The man who put them there, their long-term nemesis Jake Monroe, is cashing in – turning the island they once ruled into a twisted theme park crowned by the world’s tallest skyscraper. While the women plot revenge, old secrets that could change everything begin to surface.

The glossy veneer of their showbiz world was shattered when they were incarcerated and the rot beneath the red carpets and studio lights is beginning to show… and meanwhile, a journalist chasing the truth behind an American serial killer is uncovering stories that could destroy everything – and everyone.

As the body count climbs and the women’s trial date looms, Jake’s empire teeters. Because one thing is certain. Hell has no fury… like vengeful women.

A Message from Melanie Blake

What is one message you want to give your readers?

Thank you for loving my world of make believe… which isn’t really that made up! Without you I wouldn’t be here, and I will never forget that. xx

My Review of Vengeful Women

The women of Falcon Bay are in trouble! 

Is Vengeful Women Booker Prize winning literature? Definitely not. Is Vengeful Women brilliant entertainment brimming with modernity, intrigue and quite a lot of sex? Absolutely yes! This is a story to grab the reader from the very first page and keep them reading open-mouthed throughout.

Although this is the third book in the series, there’s absolutely no need to have read Ruthless Women and Guilty Women (although I strongly suggest you do for the greatest enjoyment) because Melanie Blake weaves in character back stories with aplomb so that how they have come to be where they are in Vengeful Women is clearly explained and yet still tantalising. There’s even a cast list of ‘Players’ to help out  – and let me tell you, never have characters been more aptly defined. There are some real players here! 

Indeed, whilst there’s quite a cast of characters, each person is distinct and clearly presented. I loved the way the reader is drip fed character intentions and real emotions through the authorial voice in ways that make the reader feel almost part of the action. And these characters are brilliantly untrustworthy so that whilst the reader thinks they have a real handle on what’s happening, there are twists and shocks galore. I’d love to see Vengeful Women – in fact the entire series – as a television drama. Viewers would be hooked.

And what action there is! The plot of Vengeful Women simply races along. There’s scheming, murder, manipulation and so many twists and turns that it leaves the reader breathless. I’d even go so far as to say that this narrative is totally audacious. The author does not pull her punches and there’s so much action of all kinds that it left me reeling. 

As well as characters to root for (as well as those like Jake to hate) and the action packed story, I loved the insight into the duplicitous, Machiavellian world of show business, journalism and media. Melanie Blake makes it simultaneously abhorrent and mesmerising so that it’s impossible not to get wrapped up in the narrative. This might be a story that’s an Adrenalin filled fast paced romp, but there are deeper elements too, from abuse to online trolling, sexism to corruption, and greed to friendship for example, so that Vengeful Women is more than just that romp. 

With glamour throughout, and being sharp, sassy and sexy, Vengeful Women is a thrilling bonkbuster for the modern age. It’s frenetic, fun and fabulous. With the National Year of Reading 2026 on the horizon, Vengeful Women could just be the very narrative to get non-readers hooked on books. I loved it.

And for all the doubters out there about this genre of writing, just remember – and beware – Hell hath no fury… 

About Melanie Blake

Melanie Blake is the internationally bestselling author behind the sensational trilogy that began with Ruthless Women, the Sunday Times #4 bestseller that sold 250,000 copies in its first month, and its bestselling sequel, Guilty Women. She’s also a successful playwright, having adapted her first novel The Thunder Girls into a play which broke box-office records for a new work – a credit she still holds to this day. Melanie’s books have been translated into nine languages and have captivated more than a million readers worldwide. 

Melanie’s stories are exhilarating rollercoaster rides packed with all the glitz, glamour, passion, and intrigue of the blockbuster novels of the eighties, yet reflective of the world we live in today. When Melanie was asked to write a foreword to a new Jackie Collins edition, it was a dream come true; Jackie’s bold and fierce characters have always inspired her. When the Daily Mirror anointed Melanie ‘Jackie Collins for a new generation,’ the journey that started with devouring Jackie’s steamy novels as a teenager was complete.

For further information visit Melanie’s website, follow her on X @MelanieBlakeUK or find Melanie on Instagram. 

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